Killed a 110 lb 5 point yesterday at approx 180 yards with my (I mean my WIFE's) .30-30 Handi Rifle. The load is IMR max book load of 3031 for this bullet in the T/C Contender data, avgs 2653 in my handi. Best 100 yd group so far is 0.74". Figured it was worth trying.
Long story short, I made a bad shot and followed a blood trail for just over 1/2 mile through the thickest and nastiest briars I've ever seen and had to make a finishing shot. This was not the fault of the bullet or the rifle, my shot placement was terrible- the worst in over 30 years of hunting, and I know I was very lucky to recover this deer. Twice when I was within 50 yards of him he'd get up and move off through the brush so I finally just sat down by one of the blood pools in the pine straw for 45 minutes before trying to track him again-- no way to slip through that stuff with your hat, clothes and flesh being ripped up with every step.
The first shot (and I'm still trying to figure out this angle) entered at the bottom of the sternum slightly to one side, followed just under the skin and destroyed the front left shoulder. The bullet did not exit, and I found part of the core under the skin on the left shoulder. The 2nd shot (2 hours later) was intended for the neck but he tried to get back up as I fired and the bullet smashed through the left ham, reentered and took out 5 ribs lengthwise, exited and entered the left shoulder again, just above the resting place of the first shot. The bullet's jacket was found resting against the spine, splayed out in a star shape, so it was the core that exited the ribs and stayed in the shoulder.
Both bullets came apart, but they both hit a lot of bone. Considering that only the second shot hit vitals (regrettably), this really can't be considered a verdict on this catridge/bullet combination. I'm afraid what this -can- be considered a verdict on is rushing a shot. He was nearly broadside to me heading down a hill, was in some light brush in a clearcut , and must have turned away from me more than I realized for the bullet to take that path. Had I made the same shot with my .308 or .280 the outcome would likely have been the same, I think.
I guess the good thing is I was able to stay on him until I got him. I'm very thankful it didn't rain, I would never have found this deer and I hate to think what may have happened to him. Until now I have either killed deer outright or just missed them-- never have had to do a tracking job like this.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to report on this rifle in a better light. That Hornady 130 looks to be a wicked bullet at that velocity. I don't think any deer would go far with a solid decent hit in the vitals.
405
